Inside the Transfer Portal: What the Closing Window Means for Florida Programs

The NCAA transfer portal closed Jan. 16, marking the end of a key window for college athletes seeking new programs and prompting coaches to shift their recruiting focus ahead of upcoming seasons. The portal, which allows student-athletes to explore opportunities at other programs without penalty, has grown into a central feature of college football recruiting, reshaping how programs build rosters. 

This January window differed from previous seasons. During the 2024-25 academic year, athletes had two separate entry windows, one in December and another in April. For the current cycle, the NCAA condensed those periods into a single January window, compressing recruiting activity into a shorter timeframe. The change concentrated decisions into a narrow period, requiring programs to evaluate needs quickly while managing scholarship budgets. 

Despite the condensed timeline, transfer activity remained high. According to Mountain West Connection, more than 4,500 college football players had entered the portal by early 2026, accounting for an estimated 25% to 30% of all scholarship athletes and breaking previous records. These statistics reflect the portal’s growing role in roster construction across college football. 

While the portal window determines when athletes can enter their names, it does not set a deadline for committing to a new program. Once the window closes, programs often shift recruiting efforts toward evaluating high school prospects and addressing remaining roster needs. 

“Just because the transfer portal closes doesn’t mean we’re done with the portal,” said Devin Rispress, Florida State recruiting coordinator. “When the transfer portal closes, our coaches will hit the road to get a jump on 2027 prospects.” 

Rispress said the portal has altered the balance between recruiting high school athletes and pursuing experienced college transfers. While high school recruiting remains a foundation of roster building, many programs increasingly rely on the portal to fill immediate needs. 

“The transfer portal has had a noticeable impact on high school recruiting, but colleges will always take high school recruits,” Rispress said. “Portal athletes are proven, and they give you a better chance to win immediately.” 

For athletes, the portal process can move quickly and create significant pressure. Armand Burris, a Florida A&M football player who entered the transfer portal before ultimately deciding to recommit to the program, said interest from other schools came almost immediately. 

“I would say as soon as I entered, about two to three days in, schools reached out from all over the country,” Burris said. 

Burris said the process can be stressful, particularly as the window nears its end and roster spots begin to fill. 

“You have about 2,000 players in your position trying to get the same place,” he said. “Coaches might pressure you to commit on the spot because if you don’t, they’ll take someone else.” 

The pressure, combined with the condensed window, has influenced how programs plan recruiting calendars. Rispress said the opening and closing dates of the portal are known well in advance, allowing staff to prepare accordingly. 

“By knowing the timeline, it gives you time to prepare and schedule everything around those dates,” Rispress said. 

Once the portal closes, financial considerations also factor into which transfers programs pursue. Coaches must balance remaining scholarship funds and name, image and likeness resources with positional needs. 

“Most of the time, you’ve already evaluated portal guys by position for your team needs,” Rispress said. “Now that the portal has closed, you have to consider how much money you have left to address your needs, and that may determine which guys you pursue.” 

As programs finalize rosters and prepare for spring practice, athletes and coaches continue adjusting to the new timeline. The condensed portal window has forced quicker evaluations and decisions, signaling that while the portal itself may have a deadline, recruiting activity, and the competition for talent, shows no signs of slowing. 

The continued growth of the transfer portal means that college football programs must adapt recruiting strategies year-round, balancing short-term success with long-term roster planning in an evolving recruiting landscape.